MUCH good work has been done in recent years on equine identification, passports, the registration of premises and the establishment of a central database.

Is it truly fit for purpose? Can we say, for example, where and how many horses we have in the event of a disease outbreak?

Not yet, is the fairest answer – it’s a work in progress.

Thousands of horses remain unidentified and a more robust system governing change of ownership is needed.

The State has certainly ponied up millions of euros in the last five years, with over 9,000 seized equines euthanised – a sad statistic that belies unacceptable neglect and unnecessary suffering.

What’s needed for any system to work is a strong rate of compliance across all levels of the sectors involved.

Those who don’t want to comply have got to be brought into the fold and, in some cases, brought to book. RTE’s Ear to the Ground did a great job highlighting ongoing equine welfare abuse.

One of the calls made was to have a Horse Warden appointed for Tipperary. In a flagship county for the equine industry, this could surely represent a good return on investment.